For anyone hoping to build a successful career in public health, getting a master’s degree in the field is a no-brainer. The United Kingdom is undoubtedly an excellent destination for pursuing a Master’s in Public Health, or for that matter, any other field. According to the QS Higher Education System Strength Rankings, it has the second-strongest system in the entire world, behind only the United States of America.
That’s why it’s beneficial for students to study this degree in this country, especially in specialized fields like this. In this article, we will take you through the best British universities that offer a master’s degree in public health.
Top Schools Offering Public Health Master’s Programs in the UK
1. Imperial College London
With around 23,000 students enrolled, the Imperial College London claims a spot in the top 10 list of QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. It was founded in 1907 by royal charter, merging three different institutions: Royal College of Science, Royal School of Mines, and City & Guilds College.
This institution has many campuses across London and southeast England, with South Kensington, White City, Silwood Park, and St. Mary’s being prominent. ICL’s Master of Public Health is a 90-credit program administered by the Faculty of Medicine. This degree teaches students how to analyze data quantitatively for use in public health, healthcare, and epidemiology studies.
It also focuses on one or more worldwide public health systems, initiatives, methodologies, and areas of innovation and development. You can also learn the program online, which has been available in part-time study mode for two or three years and full-time study for one year.
2. University of Edinburgh
Next on our list of universities in the United Kingdom with a Master’s in Public Health is the University of Edinburgh. Opened in 1583, this public research institution offers higher education to over 49,000 students. Around 24,000 are international students. It ranks 22nd in the QS World University Rankings 2024. It has five main campuses in the capital of Scotland.
Its Master of Public Health program is run by the Edinburgh Medical School’s Molecular, Genetic & Population Health Sciences. Students can complete it in one year full-time and two years part-time. The first semester (September – December) consists of core courses, while the second (January – April) deals with elective courses.
Then, students work on a dissertation project over the next four months (May-August). It is also possible to complete the MPH program online in three years in a part-time format.
3. King’s College London
Founded in 1829, King’s College London has five campuses with a student population north of 33,000 from nearly 200 nations worldwide. According to several global university rankings, it is one of the top 40 universities in the world. KCL offers the Master of Public Health program in both full-time and part-time study modes at Guy’s campus. The School of Life Course & Population Sciences oversees the program.
Full-time students can complete it in one year, while part-time students can do so in two years. The MPH program allows students to pursue any one of three specialist pathways: primary care, environmental health, and allied health. It is also available in a fully online delivery mode.
4. University of Warwick
Lying on the outskirts of Coventry, the University of Warwick is home to over 27,000 students. Multiple global university rankings recognize it as one of the world’s top 100 universities. The public research institution began its journey in 1960. Its Master in Public Health program is very famous in the UK.
It claims 16th place in the world Health Economics/Public Health category of Eduniversal Best Master’s Ranking 2019. The degree program can be completed in a year in a full-time format or within three years in a part-time format. Students undertake four core modules before choosing three of 11 optional modules. Eventually, they take on either a professional project or a dissertation.
5. University of Bristol
The University of Bristol has been operating as an independent university for 110 years. Its total enrollment is almost 30,000, and over 8,000 faculty members work there. The Bristol-based university ranks 54th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Bristol’s Department of Population Health Sciences offers a Master of Science in Public Health.
This program takes place at the Clifton campus and is available in full-time and part-time study modes. The duration is one year for full-time students and two years for part-time students. The program consists of nine taught units and a research dissertation. The Bristol Medical School is in charge of it.
6. University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is sixth on our list of UK universities with a master’s degree in this field. It began in 1451 as the fourth institution in the English-speaking world. It has a student population of over 33,700, including international students from more than 140 countries.
The university has two campuses in Glasgow—the Gilmorehill and Garscube campuses—and a remote campus in Dumfries, southwest Scotland. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, it ranks 76th globally. It has been offering its Master of Public Health since 1981. The program includes three core courses, three optional courses chosen by students, and a 60-credit self-research project.
Earning an MPH degree with a specialism in health promotion, data science, health economics, or epidemiology is possible. The program runs for a year full-time and two to four years part-time.
7. University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is another British university that claims a spot in the top 20 list of QS World University Rankings 2025 in the United Kingdom. It was founded as a university college in 1881 and became a full-fledged university in 1948. The Nottingham-based university has over 30,000 students enrolled.
At the institution, the Master of Public Health program is administered by the School of Medicine’s Division of Epidemiology and Public Health. Classes take place at Nottingham City Hospital’s Clinical Sciences Building. The 180-credit program consists of three major components: core modules (130 credits) and optional modules (50 credits). Full-time students can complete it in one year, while part-time students take two years.
In conclusion, getting a master’s degree in public health in the United Kingdom is a perfect idea because of the rigorous curriculum and practical experience needed for the students’ public health education. The universities listed above provide excellent education and state-of-the-art research facilities necessary for the degree program, so make sure to choose wisely!
We hope this article on the UK universities offering master’s degrees in public health was helpful. Make sure also to check out our Study in the UK Page and the Available Programs in the United Kingdom for more information about studying in the UK!
